Raggetty Ann framed in all her glory!

Just a quick post to show you all how well Raggetty Ann 'polished up' once she was framed - I must have visited every shop in this city to get the right frame, and still had to order the mount off the internet! I'm very happy with how she ended up, and my Nan and Gramp seemed chuffed as well - you know you've done something right when they put it in pride of place in the living room cabinet!!!! I didn't think they'd be happy with having their picture here on the blog - so I took this picture before I handed her over:

After finishing her at the end of November I had a real bug to stitch something Christmassy, but didn't really fancy the idea of pulling together all the aida and threads to stitch something out of my magazine hoard... However - I realised I had this little guy in my stash: http://bit.ly/f7zuxW who was all ready to go! I managed to get all the stitching done before I went home on Christmas Eve, but the backstitch has beaten me for now (grrrrrr)!. I will finish him before the end of January and post a pic then.

I've also been working a little on Winter Wonderland - which other project could I work on whilst all the snow was about?? I'm nearly at a point where I can stitch the other little penguin and then over two-thirds of it will be done - will post another pic soon.

My main aims for the next 3 months are to get my brother's wedding sampler done by the middle of February, so that I can get it professionally framed for the wedding in March. I also have to lose around half a stone by then, otherwise I won't fit in my bridesmaids' dress!!! How *do* you combine a sit-down hobby with enough exercise to lose weight in 3 months???? Arrgghh!!!

Finally, I just want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year, and good things for all in 2011!